I know that there are a great deal of fellow Christian mom's who have been convicted to omit the celebration of Halloween in their lives. They often site these reasoning as the fact that the celebration is pagan to the core. They give reasoning behind it that the origins included satanic worship and has no biblical means to glorify the holiday.
I have been in prayer and reading about this Christian conviction for years and have done
extensive research. I ran across this article which I have to say, is spot on to the historical references to witches and pagans. I am not saying that some sects certainly did choose to worship the devil and all things wicked and despised, but the vast majority feel into the pagan believes of worshiping nature.
extensive research. I ran across this article which I have to say, is spot on to the historical references to witches and pagans. I am not saying that some sects certainly did choose to worship the devil and all things wicked and despised, but the vast majority feel into the pagan believes of worshiping nature.
That in itself is still an abomination to the Lord as worshiping false idols is a sin and clearly abhorred by the Lord our God. I will not mince words to try to make this aspect of the oliday's origins sound "prettier" than it was. Clearly Halloween IS rooted in PAGAN (not necessarily predominately satanic) worship.
Keep in mind however, that Christmas is also rooted in the Pagan traditions and c celebrations. Christians have taken a fully pagan celebration and remolded it to deep worship and celebration the birth of the messiah! Praise the Lord!
Many Christians provide scripture as a source to ban the celebration of Halloween. Here are some that are often used...
Scripture
also records God’s command: "When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone… who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord"
(Deuteronomy 18:9–14). The Bible clearly forbids dabbling in witchcraft and the occult and idolatry, but the Israelites ignored these instructions. Israel incurred God’s wrath because its people "practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger" (2 Kings 17:17).
also records God’s command: "When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone… who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord"
(Deuteronomy 18:9–14). The Bible clearly forbids dabbling in witchcraft and the occult and idolatry, but the Israelites ignored these instructions. Israel incurred God’s wrath because its people "practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger" (2 Kings 17:17).
How is this at all applicable to how WE celebrate Halloween?
When we carve pumpkins, we use it as a lesson and a reminder to how Jesus saves us. How His sacrifice lead to our salvation. Pulling the yucky goo from the pumpkin is just like Jesus pulling our sin from us through forgiving us and changing our hearts. He then replaces that disgusting sin with His own Light. The Light in the Darkness of the world.
We dress in fun costumes that do NOT glorify demonic elements. (Nothing scary, evil, demonic, or the like. ) This is a FUN celebration that shows how God makes us NEW in our salvation. The costumes we don are a symbol of the changes the Lord is making in our hearts as we moved from the darkness into the light. Celebrate in the joy of the sacrifice
and the journey as His child!
and the journey as His child!
Fellowship with friends and family, sharing food and treats. Breaking bread and sharing. Use the time to share the light of Jesus with scripture candy! Testify when people ask about your pumpkins.
NOW, in reference to the scripture, please tell me: How is that practicing witchcrafts? Did we soothsay in our practice? How is dressing in friendly (un-demonic) costumes "calling upon the dead"? In no way, shape or form did we "interpret omens, invoke a sorcerer or one who conjures spells. We did not practice witchcraft or use a medium or spiritist. Never
have and never will!!
have and never will!!
I think Miriam Van Scott wrote a nice piece on this
...It's true that Halloween has its origins in pagan religions, however these were NATURE worshipers, NOT Satan worshipers! Ignorant of the truth, these Druids and Celts tried to manage in a hostile and unknowable world. When Christianity came to Ireland, it was embraced and celebrated. Residual practice of some Halloween customs continued as a cultural, NOT religious observence, in much the same way not all people who celebrate St. Partick's Day are Roman Catholic... Last, she misses the message that Christ HAS conquered death and Satan, eradicating fear of the unknown.What was once a dark pagan feast is now a time for candy, costumes, and visiting neighbors --- what a wonderful example of "good conquering evil" and "light overcoming darkness"! Teaching kids to cower in the darkness, smugly telling themselves that they are faithful "friends of Jesus" while their peers go trick or treating to "honor the devil" is sorely inaccurate and unfair. (That sentiment actually attributes MORE power to Satan, as if we are in his grasp and are left without hope.) After all, Jesus himself did not run from "evil doers"; he mixed with them, broke bread and participated in cultural festivals alongside "the wicked". A better message to kids is that Halloween is a reminder that unlike the Druids and other pagans, Christians no longer have to fear spooks and spirits, or worry over our ultimate fate, for death has lost its sting. What we celebrate is NOT the power of Satan, but the reality of Salvation through the sacrifice of Christ! Now THAT'S a message I want to give my kids! |
More Rebuttal:
An email from ”Apostle Kim” sites the following scriptures as yet further reasoning to omit the celebration of Halloween. 1. II Corinthians 12:21 – Paul said he was fearful that many in the church at Corinth had not repented of the sexual vice, impurity and sensuality (lasciviousness) they formerly practiced. 2. Galatians 5:19 – Galatians 5:19 lists lasciviousness as a work of the flesh. 3. Ephesians 4:19 – Paul put pressure on the Ephesians to no longer live as the heathens. He described their perverseness as folly and emptiness of soul. He said that their moral understanding was darkened and they had alienated and estranged themselves from God because of ignorance and willful blindness. Finally, he said that they had recklessly abandoned themselves to unbridled sensuality and they were eager and greedy to indulge in every kind of impurity. 4. I Peter 4:3 – This scripture speaks of believers who used to walk in lasciviousness, banqueting, abominable idolatries and revelry. The first question I asked about this passage is what is wrong with having a banquet. This particular word ‘banqueting’ is potos in the Greek and it means to have a drinking-bout or carousal. The word carousal refers to having a drunken, noisy feast of revelry. The word revel literally means hell-raiser or to commit acts that lift up the throne of Lucifer. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft but reveling is an abomination against God that includes acts directly carried out to mock him. These are the godless who shake their fists at God and say, “Satan is lord, where is the God of Israel while we shake our fists at Him?” The powerful thing about this is that God does not move or is not stimulated in man’s time. In His time the godless will be judged and dealt with. 5. The last scripture that I would like to address on this topic is Jude 1:4. This scripture needs to be read out loud. Read it with me: For certain men have crept stealthily [gaining entrance secretly by a side door]. Their doom was predicted long ago, ungodly (impious, profane) persons who pervert the grace (the spiritual blessings and favor) of our God in lawlessness and wantonness and in immorality, and disown and deny our sole Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (The Messiah, the Anointed One) (Amplified) Christian's already typically would segregate themselves from immodest or demonic costuming and do not elect to recklessly abandoned themselves to unbridled sensuality; be it on Halloween or any other day of the year, nor do we “be a hell raiser” or live in rebellion worshiping idolatries. These scriptures are calling to the human condition of allowing yourself to be called away from the Lord and embracing sin... we are doing neither. MORE ON THIS AUTHOR: Further more; the author referencescurses... “Because Halloween operates under a time released curse and must be utterly destroyed it cannot be displaced. In other words, churches must be watchful of their evangelism during this season.” She continues that... “During this period demons are assigned against those who participate in the rituals and festivities dedications. These demons are automatically drawn to the fetishes that open doors for them to come into the lives of human beings. For example, most of the candy that is sold in this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches. I do not buy candy during the Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it from door to door or just buy it from the local grocery store. The demons cannot tell the difference.” Even the colors of Halloween (orange, brown and dark red) are dedicated. The root of these colors are connected to the Fall Equinox which is usually around the 20th or 21st of September each year. It is also called Mabon. During this season witches are celebrating the changing of the seasons from summer to fall. She furthers to state that it is unacceptable for Christians to celebrate the seasons, to have orange brown and dark red colors from our homes, to never assemble around campfire rings and more as "these were pagan practices". It seems to me that this author lives in much fear! Jesus takes our fears seriously. The one statement he made more than any other was this: don’t be afraid
She seems to really need to stop resting in Legalism and instead rest and trust in the Lord Jesus. As Lucado states... “Fear itself is not a sin, but I can lead to sin...When we exclude God from the solution and exacerbate the problem. We subject ourselves to a position of fear, allowing anxiety to dominate and define our lives. Joy-sapping worries. Day-numbing dread. Repeated bouts of insecurity that petrify and paralyze us. Hysteria is not from God. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear” (2 Tim. 1:7). I pray for this author. That she would find that Jesus has already won! We need not fear demonic forces but instead, rest in the Lord Jesus. Cast your fears upon the Lord and “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. . . . I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. ( John 14:1, 3 nlt) |
Christians do not need to banish this Pagan holiday - exactly the opposite! Educate your Children to use this as a CELEBRATION and a way to testify. Celebrate that Jesus's sacrifice conquered death and Satan! His sacrifice eradicated the fear of the darkness and the devil.
What was once a dark pagan feast is now a time for Celebrating the Light overcoming the darkness! Enjoy and delight in the Lord and take the Holiday and make it ours! Make the celebration KNOWN to the secular world! Take part by enjoying in candy, (friendly, loving costumes), and visiting neighbors! Share the stories of WHY WE celebrate!
Show them how jack-o-lanterns are a prime example of how the Lord Jesus scooped out our sins, and replaced it with His glorious light! Our carved pumpkins are the Light in the Darkness. An absolute symbol of Jesus's sacrifice DEFEATING the darkness and bringing salvation to the lost and hurting. Carve your pumpkins with crosses and statements that speak our message.
Show them how we choose to rejoice in that sacrifice by having FUN! Share the LIGHT not the legalism of our faith. Just my two cents as to what the Lord has convicted upon my heart with this.
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